Finding affordable course materials is easier than ever but knowing whether they’re "good" is another story. In this session, the presenter introduces ALPACAS, a practical framework designed to help librarians, instructors, and instructional designers evaluate the quality and suitability of no- or low-cost materials. Building on established evaluation approaches, ALPACAS (Apt, License, Provenance, Accurate, Currency, Authority, and Sources) provides a simple yet comprehensive checklist that addresses the unique concerns of affordable learning initiatives. Attendees will explore each element of the framework, see examples from faculty consultations, and leave with a tool they can use to guide future adoption and evaluation of open and affordable resources.
